The anticipation for the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League was at an all-time high, as fans eagerly awaited to see their favorite stars back in action. The opening match of the season featured defending champions Gujarat Titans taking on newcomers Kolkata Knights, and it was a match that did not disappoint. Thanks to the brilliant performances from young guns Shubman Gill and Abdul Rashid, Gujarat Titans emerged triumphant in what was a thrilling encounter. In this article, we take a closer look at how Gill and Rashid led the way for their team, and why they could be the players to watch out for in this year’s IPL.
In a thrilling encounter, the Gujarat Titans clinched a five-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Super Kings, who were led by a sensational performance by Ruturaj Gaikwad, scored a respectable 178 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs with Gaikwad making a magnificent 92 off just 50 balls. However, a middle-overs slowdown, caused by Alzarri Joseph, limited the Super Kings to what was ultimately to be an insufficient total.
Despite Shubman Gill extending his rich form with another half-century, his dismissal and IPL debutant Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s variations at the death gave the Super Kings an opening, with Titans needing 30 from the last three overs. However, despite the absence of Kane Williamson, who injured himself in the field, and David Miller (national duty), the Gujarat Titans completed the job in familiar fashion with Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia finding the crucial late boundaries.
The impact player rule played a significant role in the match. Williamson’s knee injury meant that the Titans could not use the rule as effectively as they would have liked to. If Williamson had been available to bat, the Titans would have probably used him as their anchor and brought in Abhinav Manohar as their Impact Player down the order. However, B Sai Sudharsan, who replaced Williamson as the Impact Player, started well but was dismissed for 22 by leg cutter from Hangargekar.
In the earlier innings, Tushar Deshpande became the first Impact Player in the IPL when he came in for Ambati Rayudu during Super Kings’ defence. Deshpande made an early impact, finding some swing and having Gill holing out for 63, but was ultimately left with only seven to defend in the final over. Tewatia finished it off with four balls to spare.
Gaikwad’s return from injury was remarkable. Before the start of IPL 2023, Gaikwad had not played competitive cricket for two months and had joined the CSK camp in Chepauk late after undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He showed no signs of rust and quickly set to work with a brace of punched fours off Hardik Pandya.
Dube’s slow performance derailed the Super Kings’ innings. When Dube came out to bat at No.6, the Super Kings were well placed at 121 for 4 in the 13th over. Joseph and Hardik kept peppering Dube’s body with short balls, and he just couldn’t get the pull away. Dube faced 17 balls, and 13 of them were short or short-of-good-length deliveries. He could manage only one boundary off them, sending Super Kings’ innings spiraling out of control.
Hangargekar was the star bowler for the Titans, taking three wickets for 36 runs in his four overs. His yorkers and cutters even had Super Kings’ former death-overs specialist and current bowling coach Dwayne Bravo applauding from the dugout. When Hangargekar finished his shift, the Titans needed 23 off the last two overs, which Rashid and Tewatia guaranteed to seal the victory. The Titans have won all three encounters against the Super Kings, and the Impact Player rule played a crucial role in the match’s outcome.
In the end, it was a masterful display of cricket by the defending champions of the IPL, the Gujarat Titans. With a strong lineup led by the dynamic duo of Shubman Gill and Sandeep Rashid, the Titans showed their class and experience, securing a resounding victory in the IPL 2023 opener. While it’s still early days in the competition, this win will undoubtedly boost the defending champions’ confidence as they look to secure their place at the top of the leaderboard. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds for the Gujarat Titans and their fans.
